§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the frequency of punishment beatings in the period(a) before. (b) during and (c) after President Clinton's visit to Northern Ireland; and what assessment he has made of this estimate. [5553]
§ Sir John WheelerThe information requested is as follows:
800W
Casualties as a result of "punishment" attacks (shootings and assaults) Month Loyalist Republican Total June 1995 4 13 17 July 1995 11 18 29 August 1995 5 12 17 September 1995 4 12 16 October 1995 4 21 25 November 1995 11 11 22 December 1st-11th 1 2 3 Total 40 89 129 These statistics have been provided by the RUC and arc subject to amendment.
Between 22 November and 4 December no such attacks were carried out by either loyalists or republican groups. It is clear the groups perpetrating these savage and cowardly acts are acting under control. As President Clinton said while in Northern Ireland, they should cease now.